Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Wednesday, May 14, 2025:
‘Culture war issues’ may not be marquee, but they aren’t absent this legislative session
During the last legislative session, lawmakers made headlines and drew backlash for tackling controversial issues including gender-affirming care, abortion and book bans in school libraries. Two years later, public attention has drifted away from these topics somewhat. But lawmakers are still legislating on them.
Mark Hand, professor of political science at UT Arlington, joins us to discuss.
Eagle Pass residents have bittersweet feelings over Shelby Park reopening
Shelby Park in the Texas border city of Eagle Pass became a focal point in tensions between the state and the Biden administration over immigration enforcement. More than a year after the State of Texas took over Shelby Park during the peak of illegal border crossings, it has now reopened to the public.
Texas Public Radio’s Marian Navarro has this story.
Meet the book club that’s been reading the same book for more than a decade
In 1939, Irish author James Joyce published a book that defies comprehension: “Finnegans Wake,” which, in the world of literature, is notorious for its difficulty.
It’s a work that’s so dense and experimental, one reading group that started in Austin has been working on it for more than a decade – and they’re still not even close to done. Their founder sat down with the Texas Standard.
San Antonio hosts the Texas Parasport Games
Hundreds of athletes of varying abilities and disabilities gathered in San Antonio last month to compete in the annual Texas Parasport Games.
Texas Public Radio’s Jackie Velez was there and shares the story.
Texas farmers struggle as Mexico remains behind on water-delivery treaty
For years, Texas has been relying on Mexico for water. But as the water in the region continues to be scarce, droughts continue and infrastructures ages, Mexico continues to be behind on a treaty that goes back more than 80 years. And as a result, Texas agriculture is feeling the heat.
Carlos Morales who, in a piece for NPR, went to Presidio to talk with farmers, joins us with the story.
Gene Autry’s little-known role in promoting the New Deal
The first singing cowboy of the movies was Texas-born Gene Autry. He starred in 91 feature-length westerns and recorded over 600 songs.
But Texas Public Radio’s David Martin Davies reports Autry also played a subtle, but powerful, role in promoting President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal through his movies, music and public persona.
What’s driving the surge in military enlistments?
After a post-pandemic crisis, military recruiters are on a winning streak again. All of the armed services beat their enlistment targets last year, and most have set higher goals for this year.
Jay Price of the American Homefront Project reports on what’s behind the turnaround.
All this, plus Alexandra Hart with the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Raul Alonzo with the Talk of Texas.
